The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-08-11

The Wythe resolutions were introduced
by MI. Pierce, and without being read
were promptly referred to the committee
where they were silently sat upon and
never heard of.
There was some pretty lively Gussing
among the delegates at the cowardice
manifested in the platform, but it was
sub rosa, and found expression only after
the convention had adjourned. And Mr..
Massey's quiet assumption of leader
ship, and his proof of right and title
thereto, was not a palatable dose. The
graduates from his Normal are not alto
gether proud of their diplomas.
Throughout the convention there was
notable absence of bitterness. The speeches
as a class, were very conservative, and the
harmony 80 thick as to smother the inter-
est. Everything was put through after
the most approved style of bossism 1.-THE
whole proceedings being entirely conducted
by the select few and central head, with
no chance for the embryos to make them
selves heard.
On invitation of Mr.. Eddy, Vice-Presi-
dent of the Norfolk and Western railroad,
the members of the convention and repre-
sentatiyes of the press, enjoyed free ex-
cursion to the Cripple Creek iron ore sec
ton and the future City of Pulaski The
train of ten cars, carrying between five
and six hundred passengers, left Roanoke
| about 10 O'Clock Friday and made the trip
| in day 1t passed through some of the
| finest deposits of iron on the continent,
and through a section rich in all that
| makes country great. Splendid farming
and grazing lands. with now and then a
stretch of solid timber, line the road on
| either side for miles and miles. When the
| Cripple Creek extension is reached, the
scenery changes to broad river on the one
side and frowning bluffs on the other, with
here and there glimpse of meadow and
waving corn. Along this line OF some
twenty odd miles, are vast mountains OF
finest ore. which the enterprise of the
Norfolk and Western is changing from
dead wealth to living values. At Pulaski
a 200 ton furnace will soon be in operation,
and its pay roll added to that OF the Bertha
Zinc Works, which now employs over 300
hands, furnishes substantial foundation
for the city just springing into promi
nence. That the projectors OF Pulaski
have faith in it's future, is shown by the
outlay being made for the Improvement OF
its streets. Wide thoroughfares are being
graded, substantial houses are going up,
and an air of energy and business is observ-
able on every side. The policy OF the
Norfolk and Western has been to develop
local traffic along its line. The wisdom of
that policy is seen in the long trains that
follow each other in quick succession oyer
its rails. The branches extend in every
direction, bringing the iron, the coal and
limestone together. furnishing the home
market for the farmer, and giving employ
ment to thousands, whose labor in turn
creates new values. Ii every railroad in
Virginia wonld follow the example of this
admirably managed line, there would be
fewer complaints against the oppression
of corporations. and q greater appreciation
of the advantages of rapid transportation.
The Platform.
| The Democratic party of Virginia, in conven-
| ton assembled, congratulate the people upon
the continued enjoyment of the blessings of
good government secured by the restoration by
| Democratic administrations, State and Fed
eral. Again invoking the popular verdict in
its behalf, we point with pride and confidence
TO q record OF pledges ia11hfuIly pefIofined AND
tot he oII1
offers.
First. The wise, conservative, fearless, and
honest administration of Grover Cleveland,
President of the United States, deserves and
will receive the cordial support of the Demo-
second We demand the immediate repeal
of the internal-l evenue system, a relic of the
| war and no longer necessary to meet the de-
mands of the Government, because 1t is oppres-
| sive, fosters monopolies, and is obnoxious to
the interests of our people.
| Third. We favor raising the revenue requi-
| site for the support of the Federal Government
| by tariff upon imports, limited to the necessi-
| lies of the Government economically admin =
| tered, and so adjusted in its application as to
prevent unequal burdens, encourage produc-
tive interest at home, the development OF our
=, | material resources and afford just cOmpenSa-
tion to labor. but not to foster monopolies
Fourth. We approve the action of the last
General Assembly at its extra session in 1887
in refusing to accept the terms proposed by the
, bGndhOlderS in connection with q settlement
of the public debt. The Democratic party Will
never support or sanction any adjustment OF
the debt which shall impose larger liability
and provided for by the Rlddleberger bill, and
we pledge the party to enact all laws necessary
( to render said settlement eHectlVe maj, anu
decisive.
Fifth. The Democratic party pledges itself
to urge upon Congress the justice of its practi-
cal recognition of Virginias equitable demands
3 for com pensation for her past munihcent dona-
} ment, and also for loss to Virginia for dsmem-
berment of her territory and consequent re-
duction of her taxable values in order that the
fund Justly due Virginia from this source may
! be available to aid i'll relieving the Taxpayer
from the burdens of her present financial diff
| cuties We reassert the determination of the
party to literally provide for our disabled sol
diers, and declare that in The future the State
l | should provide for the INDECENT widows OF sol
diers who fell on the field of battle died from
the effect of wounds received in defence of the
sixth The Democratic party founded and
organized the public school system of Virginia
I and has adopted every measure which has
| been passed to secure its efficiency, and we
+, pledge the party to its continued support until
, every child in the Commonwealth, OF whatever
race color, may secure the benefits OF free
1 education and we earnestly advocate liberal
appropriations by the Federal Government
I out OF the national revenues in aid of the edu-
! cation of the children of the several States in
! proportion to illteracy i'll accordance with the
t provisions of the Blair bill or some better
measure.
4 Seventh That the Democratic party Will
, foster, encourage and protect the agricultural
interests of Virginia, and believe that the sue
a cess of that interest is the foundation of the
States prosperity
been the friend of The labOrlng man, and re-
l cognizes labor as wealth. and in shall be its
, duty in the future it has been In the past to
elevate, dignity and sustain it, and il stands
pledged to prevent, as far as practical bic, the
conflict of convict labor with the honeStsla-
Dor of our mechanics and other working citi-
zenS.
We are unalteraby opposed to the introduce
ton of foreign pauper labor into this country,
and request the Congress of the United
states to pass such laws as will prevent the i'm
migration OF such people, who will become a
burden upon the taxpayers of this country, or
. will come in competition with honest Ameri-
can laborers
We favor the gathering of statistics by the
labor bureau of the United States and if not done
by that. the establishment of labor bureau to
. investigate questions which tend to the eleya-
ton OF the laborlng class. The public lands,
the heritage of the people, shall be held for
tual settlers no more grants to railroads or
SPECTATORS and we want lands held for Specu-
, lative purposes according TO value.
ResotUed, That we endorse and heartily an
prove the wise and judlcious administration OF
F1tZhugh Lee as Governor of Virginia. We dep
recate The payment of any taxes or dues to the
commonwealth in coupons as unWise and
patriotic, and we call upon the taxpayers of
the State to refuse to take this advantage of the
commonwealth. The people have the absolute
control and the decision of the debt question in
their own hands. If they will persevere in the
patriotic policy which has characterized the
greater portion of the Taxpayers of the Com
monWealth for the last.four years they will soon
effectually accomplish settlement of this vey :
ed question. We appeal to the taxpayers TO
stand by the State in this contest.
We earnestly deprecate the present unneceS-
| sory ABSORPTION in the Treasury of the United